Tasting Darkness

Read Taming Darkness By Jessica Hall Book 3 Chapter 15 - Darius POV Her wings spread wide, burning as brightly as the lava she walked on Yet when her lips parted on a scream, the sound matched that of her Phoenixes.

It erupted out of her, shattering the windows on the building where | stood. The sound was so powerful, even the ground belowshook like an earthquake. | had no idea a scream could be as impressive, all-consuming and destructive.

Our mate, she truly was a thing of beauty, grace and unseen dominance. She was a force to be reckoned with, and honestly, g*d should stand by those who ever dared to doubt her. Whoever had a gall to think of Aleera as less than she truly was, was in for a massive surprise. And pain. A lot of pain.

| could describe her scream as the sound of chaos and destruction. It roared, tore out of her, as if the process hurt her. Those sounds grew louder when she lifted her hands.

The lava spewed out and morphed into snakes, slivering out of the crater. The snakes instantly attacked, hunting their prey, just as her Phoenixes dived to help pick them off.

Aleera’s magic was unimaginable. It was powerful and strong, twisted and wicked, yet insanely beautiful. | couldn't find better words or ways to describe everything | was witnessing happening before my eves. | never dared to go as far as to assthat something like this might be possible.

Her mother screamed for her minions to grab Aleera. A wicked smirk spread across my lips once | noticed what was happening right before the command. The minions were hesitant at first to do her bidding, yet once their true nature shone through, the morons were eager to steal her magic.

Aleera moved almost as if she was dancing, so light on her feet. She looked graceful with each precise move.

She managed to create a performance as she showed off her skills, flaunted her magic in front of those who were unworthy of ever holding so much power in their hands.

Watching her, one would think she had trained all her life in combat. Assthat battles and wars were all Aleera ever had known. But it was instinct and intuitive sight as she anticipated their every move. Once she gave into the primal instinct of her nature, of her magic, the power hunters were no match for her.

One by one, Aleera cut them down. Every hunter that tried their luck to go against our beautiful mate went down before they could get close enough to hurt her. Her wings were sharper than any sword and one of her biggest weapons. They cut and slashed through skin and flesh, leaving clean, deadly wounds.

Our Aleera. My Aleera looked like the angel of death. She was magnificent, indescribable and so, so unreal. After all the vile things | had committed over my lifetime, I still couldn't believe she was mine.

Yet, as much as | loved to admire my mate, her combat skills, and her magic, | couldn't stand aside like a fool.

We were in the epicenter of a war and my mates, all of them, neededto survive just as much as | needed them.

Just as | tore my gaze away from Aleera, Lidia turned her attention to the fight. Finally, her hand clutching the knife fell from my neck as she screeched at her men for them to grab her.

I moved quickly, sweeping her legs out from under her. The blade went flying from her hand as she hit the ground.

Getting to my feet, | went to grab her when she lifted her hand, blindingwith blue light. | knew that b*tch didn’t play a fair game. She found an easy exit for everything, no matter what it took, so | should have seen her next move.

My eyes becscorched, and | was temporarily blinded when | felt her foot connect with my stomach. All of a sudden, | was falling.

Wind rushed pastwhen | heard her whistle. The sound was as loud as a siren call, to which | turned and tossed my hands out to open a portal.

Just as | thought | was doing something, Ryze swooped belowand then past, hertalons sunk into my arm as she flapped with all her might to slow my fall.

Insane laughter rang through the air as my feet touched the ground.

Ryze screeched loudly, her wings, skimming my face as she shot off in the direction of Aleera.

I ran for her too, Aleera needed me, she needed all the help she could get. F**k! This was my battle to begin with, and now, all my mates were involved. If any of them got hurt because of me, | couldn't forgive myself. Ever.

From the corner of my eye, | noticed that Aleera’s mother had opened a portal and now stood on the council stairs.

Aleera, however, was too busy fighting the man who had Kalen’s leash in his fist. | cursed under my breath once | noticed that Kalen’s face was turning purple. The g*tddamn leash was caught around a pole as he fought not to let go.

Tslowed, and my eyes widened when | saw Lidia raise the remote in her hand. She didn’t hesitate to push one of the buttons, which in result jolted Kalen. The purple shade of his face turned into deep red, the pain traveled through the bond, nearly forcingdown to my knees.

Just in time, Aleera pivoted her wings, slicing the leash the man held. Finally, Kalen was released. He instantly sucked in a breath and gasped for more, as if he was starved of one for centuries.

Kalen hit the ground in a heap, and my breath lodged in my throat as | saw him scramble to try to undo it. Just as, Aleera’s mother raised her hand, clutching the remote once again.

My heart slowed before it started pumping erratically. | almost screamed when | noticed that Lycus was racing in Lidia's direction. | knew he wanted to stop that b*tch as much as | wanted to, but his decision was outrageously dangerous.

So many things were happening around us that | only heard a sickening slashing sound. | didn’t realize what had happened until blood spatter hit my face. | blinked as | watched Aleera’s wings slice the man in half.

A second after the leftovers of the man hit the ground, her wings flexed. Feathers as sharp as razors and as strong as steel flew off her as she turned, coated in blood. One hard feather slashed my cheek as it passed by me. The feather heading in the direction of her mother while more sliced our enemies.

However, it didn’t hit her, but the remote in her hand just as she hit the button. Lycus howled, and | screamed as her feather cut through it.

My eyes widened in horror, moving to Kalen just as he unclipped the collar, tossing it aside. | waited for the explosion, but it didn’t come. Lycus’ body crashed into Lidia, and he started tearing into her, only to be blasted with power. The loud ringing of her magic madeclutch my ears.